Beyoncé's distinctive artistry and ascent across musical landscapes embody the essence of lifting others as her star continues to rise. Her unwavering commitment to empowering groups of people who are often overlooked but also experience heartbreak, love, insecurities, and various other human emotions has helped to maintain her relevance across multiple generations.

The artist delivered her seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE, to close out July 2022. Paying homage to her late uncle Johnny, a queer Black man, and honoring Black and LGBTQI+ communities were at the forefront of her 16-song soundtrack. There were an abundance of references to New York ballroom culture and Chicago house music mixes incorporated throughout the album. The mix of sound and substance left fans yearning for more from the multihyphenate. Soon enough, Beyoncé heard their call and answered with the announcement of her summer RENAISSANCE World Tour where she would perform on 56 stages across the globe.

Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE declaration also expressed a profound appreciation for her fans, especially those who reside in the Black or queer communities and those who overlap. Mainstream artists frequently ignore these groups and their impact on culture in their music and live performances. Beyoncé, however, understood the assignment. Exposure to Black and queer culture was illuminated throughout the show's production, providing an authentic representation that celebrated these communities.

Attendees were immersed in an environment that fostered belonging, community, and a safe space for people to unapologetically express themselves. BET’s Consumer Insights Group recently partnered with ScreenEngine/ASI to commission a study on the monumental cultural and economic impact of Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE World Tour and discovered that Black LGBTQI+ attendees, compared to White hetero people, were 2.2 times more likely to experience a sense of freedom that led to them paying to see her in concert, at least twice. And they were nearly twice as likely to have traveled to see her on tour in a city other than their own, making this more of an experience than just a one-night concert. At a time when transgender communities are under attack, the enduring joy emanating from her tour was not only needed but also timely.

One respondent to the study, who identifies as a 35-year-old Black Queer woman, said of the concert experience, "I just feel like everybody could just kind of be free. […] you could just be free and nobody's judging you because you're here. It felt like a safe space.”

Another respondent, who identifies as a 24-year-old Queer Black woman, spoke about how the vibe of the album replicated the vibe of the concert event, saying, "Everyone is welcome, like be yourself. So, I feel knowing that, it was the whole energy of the album. I feel like everybody really was on that type of time.”

Beyoncé's electrifying tribute to Black and LGBTQI+ groups featured voguing and dance interludes where ballroom dancers, including crowd favorite Honey Balenciaga, were spotlighted centerstage. Influential figures from the ballroom scene, such as Kevin JZ Prodigy and TV/media personality Ts Madison, lent their vocals to stand-alone chants seamlessly affirming Blackness and queerness as Beyoncé transitioned between acts. 

Collective enjoyment was integral, particularly for Black individuals from the LGBTQI+ community, who were 71% more likely to have attended the concert through social media meetups and almost 2.4 times more likely to have made new friends at the event compared to White heterosexual attendees, according to BET’s Consumer Insights online survey.

The study reported that bonds formed as guests, decorated in silver fashions from head-to-toe resembling metallic armor, flooded each venue. Each venue hoped Beyoncé would proclaim their city as the winner of the "Mute Challenge," quickly making it a trending hashtag. 

You know, Beyoncé is the way she is. She’s inclusive, just good vibes," commented a 31-year-old Black woman on the online survey. "Some kinds of shows are not the same; I like to go to a place where everyone feels free. There's no drama. Everything feels safe. You don’t have to worry about ‘Oh, my God! Am I going to make it home safe? Am I going to be okay? Is the place clean? So, I would definitely go to another show if the vibes were the same, or if they can promise that.”

The "Alien Superstar" singer cultivated a liberating, transcending, and unforgettable three-hour performance where homophobia, transphobia, and other existential worries just did not exist. From nail technicians and hairstylists to late-night restaurants, Beyoncé's tour contributed about $4.5 billion to the economy, according to Forbes, which is nothing to sneeze at, especially the portion that helped improve local Black-owned businesses. In fact, the online survey showed that 64% of concert attendees shopped and spent at least $100 with Black-owned companies in their respective cities.

Coined as the "Beyoncé bump," women and LGBTQI+-owned shops also experienced significant consumer growth. The exposure to Black and queer culture encouraged nearly half of attendees to intentionally shop at Black-owned companies to prepare for the concert and almost a third patronized LGBTQI+-owned businesses. Responders to the survey said they really liked seeing merchandise marketed as originating from a Black, LGBTQI+ or other type of business/creator and that they looked towards Black influencers to inspire their concert looks.

RENAISSANCE was not just a moment but a movement that celebrated the visibility of Black and LGBTQI+ communities. Since the December release of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, 90% of Black and LGBTQI + fans have planned to relive the concert experience by attending the film, which earned $21 million in its opening weekend.

Beyoncé's impact from her RENAISSANCE Tour remains the most significant and influential moment of 2023 for the Black community. The economic impact, the Black business impact, the way live events are produced, the sense of belonging and the bridging of communities together—this tour transcended what was tangible and showcased the best of Black excellence. The experience can be summed up best in the words of a 48-year-old Black woman who attended one of the shows and said, "I just felt like I belong. I felt like I was able to come to this big thing that everybody was talking about. It was just such a big event, and I was a part of it.”

And now, her vision, through the concert film, continues on, leaving audiences feeling invigorated to ignite those feelings from the live event and spark the power within that makes each one of us unique and special.